WRC Argentina
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WRC - Argentina: Dominguez takes the lead with a 5m09.8s, 1.5s ahead of Fuchs.
Tempestini slots in fourth.
Tempestini slots in fourth.
WRC - Argentina: There's a decent sized crowd in Merlo for this super special, Tempestini's Subaru should please the rally purists.
It should be added that it isn't blue, though.
It should be added that it isn't blue, though.
Marco Tempestini
WRC - Argentina: Next up, Tempestini vs Dominguez.
WRC - Argentina: Fuchs takes the quicker time, 5m11.3s. That puts him 2.4s clear of Ketomaa in WRC2 overall.
WRC - Argentina: We're over halfway with this heat, Fuchs and Al-Kuwari pretty evenly matched so far.
WRC - Argentina: Fuchs attacked that watersplash with vigour first time around, epic stuff from the Fiesta driver.
WRC - Argentina: It's certainly not your average superspecial, with a brilliant watersplash a particular highlight.
Next up is Al-Kuwari - WRC2 leader - and Nicolas Fuchs.
Next up is Al-Kuwari - WRC2 leader - and Nicolas Fuchs.
WRC - Argentina: Al Qassimi vs Ketomaa is go, and it's Ketomaa who takes it in his R5 Fiesta.
The Finn's time was 5m13.7s.
The Finn's time was 5m13.7s.
WRC - Argentina: Then it's the WRC runners (Or what's left of them)
Ligato vs Prokop
Neuville vs Evans
Sordo vs Ostberg
Latvala vs Meeke
Ligato vs Prokop
Neuville vs Evans
Sordo vs Ostberg
Latvala vs Meeke
WRC - Argentina: WRC2 will take to the superspecial first, with the tandems as follows:
Al Qassimi vs Ketomaa
Al-Kuwari vs Fuchs
Tempestini vs Dominguez
Lefebvre vs Saba
Al Qassimi vs Ketomaa
Al-Kuwari vs Fuchs
Tempestini vs Dominguez
Lefebvre vs Saba
WRC - Argentina: Latvala is struggling with drive in his Volkswagen, with gearbox and differential issues.
He's expecting to lose around a minute in SS6, and is already 53.1s down on rally leader Meeke.
He's expecting to lose around a minute in SS6, and is already 53.1s down on rally leader Meeke.
WRC - Argentina: There is less than 10 minutes to go until the final stage of the day, SS6.
The superspecial is an exciting way to finish an exciting day, that's for sure.
The superspecial is an exciting way to finish an exciting day, that's for sure.
WRC - Argentina: Protasov is through and takes the fastest time ahead of Dominguez, a 10m39s.
That promotes Protasov into second overall in WRC2, 1m36.3s behind Al-Kuwari.
That promotes Protasov into second overall in WRC2, 1m36.3s behind Al-Kuwari.
WRC - Argentina: Very inconveniently, the Ukrainian's times aren't showing on the timing screens...
WRC - Argentina: Back with SS5, Protasov is finally on his way into the final part of the stage.
We'll give you his time as soon as we get it. Let's hope he hasn't left his wheel two corners from the end, as he did before.
We'll give you his time as soon as we get it. Let's hope he hasn't left his wheel two corners from the end, as he did before.
WRC - Argentina: Up next at 9:08 GMT is a repeat of yesterday's superspecial in Villa de Merlo.
Ogier was quickest ahead of Meeke and Mikkelsen yesterday. Meeke is the only one of those drivers remaining though, and the rally leader will no doubt look to extend his lead.
The big question is can Latvala's gearbox hold on, and/or keep the Finn competitive enough to stay within reach of Meeke.
Ogier was quickest ahead of Meeke and Mikkelsen yesterday. Meeke is the only one of those drivers remaining though, and the rally leader will no doubt look to extend his lead.
The big question is can Latvala's gearbox hold on, and/or keep the Finn competitive enough to stay within reach of Meeke.
WRC - Argentina: That's a brilliant time in WRC2 by Diego Dominguez, 2.1s up on Al-Kuwari and fastest.
After Protasov's earlier issues, Dominguez is second overall, but still 2m42s behind Al-Kuwari.
After Protasov's earlier issues, Dominguez is second overall, but still 2m42s behind Al-Kuwari.
WRC - Argentina: While we wait for Protasov, let's update the overall rally order after SS5:
1 Meeke 1h39m43.4s
2 Latvala +53.1s
3 Ostberg
4 Sordo
5 Evans
6 Prokop
7 Neuville
1 Meeke 1h39m43.4s
2 Latvala +53.1s
3 Ostberg
4 Sordo
5 Evans
6 Prokop
7 Neuville
WRC - Argentina: In the melee surrounding Latvala's problem's, we missed Martin Prokop. We should explain that he picked up an anti-roll bar issue on SS4, and did well to keep his car on the road.
He was 32.8s off Meeke's time, but still a comfortable sixth overall.
He was 32.8s off Meeke's time, but still a comfortable sixth overall.
WRC - Argentina: Nicolas Fuchs managed to get within 11.4s of Al-Kuwari.
The only man likely to challenge Al-Kuwari is Protasov, who isn't due through for another seven or eight cars.
The only man likely to challenge Al-Kuwari is Protasov, who isn't due through for another seven or eight cars.
WRC - Argentina: Ketomaa has driven the whole of SS5 without brakes!
Will this rally get anymore incredible? Not possible, surely.
Will this rally get anymore incredible? Not possible, surely.
Stopwatch
WRC - Argentina: back to the WRC2 battle - Al-Kuwari comes through 47.4s quicker than Ketomaa.
WRC - Argentina: The problem for Jari-Matti Latvala is there is still one more stage to complete before service, so the Finn could lose more time in SS6 - the superspecial.
WRC - Argentina: the WRC2 battle will begin to take shape shortly, with only Ketomaa through so far.
WRC - Argentina: So after more carnage (we're struggling to cope with the excitement at AUTOSPORT Live) here's the stage order:
1 Meeke 10m03.9s
2 Ostberg +8.4s
3 Evans
4 Neuville
5 Sordo
1 Meeke 10m03.9s
2 Ostberg +8.4s
3 Evans
4 Neuville
5 Sordo
Quote
WRC - Argentina: The Northern Irish driver has a huge lead now, but he isn't getting carried away.
"There's a very long way to go, I'm not expecting any result."
"There's a very long way to go, I'm not expecting any result."
WRC - Argentina: Meeke is through and takes the stage lead, 10m03.9s. That's 8.4s quicker than Citroen team-mate Mads Ostberg.
His lead is up to 53.1s.
His lead is up to 53.1s.
WRC - Argentina: If Latvala does retire, we'll be down to six WRC cars after an incredible day of action here in Argentina.
WRC - Argentina: The most noticeable thing about Latvala when he stopped after the stage was his voice.
The dejected Finn sounded like defeat.
The dejected Finn sounded like defeat.
WRC - Argentina: Meeke comes through the third split with exactly the same time as Latvala, a 6m29.5s.
Meeke shouldn't lose as much time as Latvala in the final section though.
Meeke shouldn't lose as much time as Latvala in the final section though.
WRC - Argentina: Meeke was quicker than Latvala through the first two splits anyway, but a problem as serious as gearbox/diff issues could cost the Finn even more time.
Crash
WRC - Argentina: Latvala has a gearbox problem, and it sounds serious as the Finn barely stops at the end of the stage.
He's 16s down on Ostberg's quickest time.
He's 16s down on Ostberg's quickest time.
WRC - Argentina: Latvala is next through and he has been around 3s up on Ostberg through the splits so far.
The Volkswagen driver arrives and has LOST TIME!
The Finn is 14.5s in the last split, obviously with some sort of issue.
The Volkswagen driver arrives and has LOST TIME!
The Finn is 14.5s in the last split, obviously with some sort of issue.
WRC - Argentina: Evans is through and that's an impressive time from the Brit, only 0.1s slower than Ostberg.
Quote
WRC - Argentina: Ostberg seems happy with his run.
"Yeah it's ok. Its quite similar to this morning, looser than I expected. It was a good run, I'm happy with that."
"Yeah it's ok. Its quite similar to this morning, looser than I expected. It was a good run, I'm happy with that."
WRC - Argentina: Neuville is through in 10m13.8s.
Ostberg comes through now, 1.5s quicker.
Ostberg comes through now, 1.5s quicker.
WRC - Argentina: Latvala is 1.9s up on Ostberg through the second split.
Prokop is also into the stage now.
Prokop is also into the stage now.
Stopwatch
WRC - Argentina: Ostberg is also through the final split, 3.9s overall quicker than Neuville.
Latvala is fastest through the first split by 0.6s over Ostberg.
Latvala is fastest through the first split by 0.6s over Ostberg.
WRC - Argentina: Neuville is through the third and final split in 6m36.9s, he'll be at the stage end soon enough.
WRC - Argentina: Elfyn Evans is through the first split, not as quick as Ostberg but 2.1s up on Neuville.
Latvala is now into the stage too.
Latvala is now into the stage too.
By: David Evans, Jack Benyon, Matt Beer, Peter Mills, Mitchell Adam
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